Punjab industry and trade has to bear the heat of farmers’ protest: PPBM

Ludhiana, April 29, 2024: Today, leaders of Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal consisting state general secretary and National Traders’ Welfare Board Member Sunil Mehra and mandal's general secretary and Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal All India Secretary Ayush Aggarwal, held a press conference at their head office situated at Mata Rani Chowk, Ludhiana on Monday. 

They stated that for the past minimum of 3 months farmers have blocked road and railway tracks in name of their protest against government for their demands and blocked Shambhu Border. Mehra stated on this that all the trains going from Punjab towards Delhi have to be diverted either from Sirhind or Sahnewal towards Chandigarh and then reconnected to Ambala City and then move towards Delhi. Due this extralong route, all the industrial goods and materials are being delayed in reaching their destined port than their destined time. Daily 70-80 trains are being cancelled by the authorities. On the other hand, on road routes also, the route is diverted from Shambhu Border towards Ambala via Chandigarh, Zirakpur. Punjab is already facing economic crisis and such protests, which are done to safeguard one's interest and damage the others', adds to the state's economic difficulties. Due to this Punjab has to suffer economic loss of ₹700-800 crores daily. 

Ayush Aggarwal said that Punjab has total of 34 lacs MSME units and all the industry and traders (whether small or large) give employment to minimum of 50 lacs of people in the state. Due to protests at border and delayed delivery of the goods at desired ports, Punjab is seeing downfall in exports by 40%.  And since Punjab trade and industry is failing in fulfilling their responsibilities to deliver the goods, foreign traders and industrialists are blacklisting Punjabi trade and industry. 

Mehra said that already Punjab's industry is facing downfall in production due to unannounced and unplanned electricity cuts, results of improper infrastructure, and now farmers' protest have made Punjab's industry remind of the phase when due to farmer's protest roads till New Delhi were shut and Punjab's industry had to face loss of minimum of ₹20 lacs crore. Instability in Punjab's law and order have also restrained businessmen from outside state and instill fear in their hearts. As a result, Punjab hotel and tourism industry is also facing crunch in their business. 

All India secretary, Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, Ayush Aggarwal stated that State's Finance Minister Mr Cheema is only emphasising on the fact that state's GST has risen y-o-y by 20% but ignore another fact that our adjacent states like Haryana; which was once considered slower than us, is attracting more and more industry and generating GST collection of ₹80 thousand crore. Another state Uttar Pradesh, is also performing very well in terms of attracting industry and is soon and speedily going to become industrial hub and such facilities and schemes have also led Punjab to lose ₹2 lacs crore industrial investment as many large and big industries, about one lac units have left Punjab for Uttar Pradesh. 

The leaders stated that such situation is very stressful and requires state government's special attention to improve the economic condition of the state otherwise the state which is already under debt of ₹ 3.5 lacs crore will lose their only hope i.e., the industry to help them revive from this debt and soon the state will witness its condition worsen than that of Sri Lanka which was bankrupted due to debt trap. 

They stated that many times Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal have tried to contact Chief Minister Bagwant Mann to sit and discuss on industrial issues and resolutions to it but their efforts have not shown any result. They have given government an ultimatum to find and implement ways in discussion with them to revive dyeing trade and industry or as a last resort they have to visit the Governor of Punjab for survival and even visit Central Government after election results and demand a relief package.